I really needed this today. After a few posts doing well, I started to feel immense pressure and started to base success over those likes/comments. thank you for reminding me who I started doing this for <3
aah it means the world to me that i could give you that reminder. it’s so easy to start thinking that way, especially when the numbers start rising. that’s why we’re here to remind one another. you’re doing so great on here 🤍 that’s exactly it—the person we show up for, that’s why we do this 💌
I recognized the trap you're describing from the inside.
I'm 70. I've been building something online for nearly two years now — writing daily, making videos, showing up consistently. And I still catch myself checking numbers before I've had my coffee. Still feel the pull of external validation as proof that the work is real.
What you said about recognition and permission hit hard. I spent decades waiting for permission that was never going to come from outside. A committee that met to discuss how I should behave. A marriage that went quiet when I spoke too loudly. Systems that required me to shrink in order to belong.
And then one day I just started writing. Not because anyone said I could. Because something in me refused to wait any longer.
You're right that the writing existed before the fear did. The trick — and I'm still learning this at 70 — is remembering that on the days when nothing outside reflects what you hoped to see.
wow, monica. first of all, thank you — for sharing this, for your encouragement, for your kindness, and for the inspiration. your words are going to stay with me for a long time, so thank you for that gift.
second of all, i’m so glad you’re betting on yourself and giving your voice the space it has always deserved.
i hope you know how important your words are. thank you again. <3
vicki, i'm so happy to see you! thank you so much for your kindness. i think you're right about that. it's important to keep reminding ourselves to challenge that inner voice.
amen! you are a writer, and your words are needed. never forget it! 🥰✮⋆˙
Ugh, Sofia never ever stop writing please. I deeply needed this reminder today, that just because I am slowing down for a bit, doesn't mean I am not a writer. I am a writer, even before what I learnt what it is to be one. Crazy stories that we call "dreams" always in hindsight was more vivid than my own life, and most often than not, I'd dream of being a writer. Because being a writer doesn't mean you just write stories. It means you make people feel seen, relatable, a reminder that the humanity is in humans, just like you have. Thank you for posting this 🫶🌻
my new bestie!! thank you from the bottom of my heart. <3
"I am a writer, even before what I learnt what it is to be one." that hit home. 🥹 those are the sweetest words... thank you so very much for being here. 💌
yes! such good reminders in this post. Substack brought it onto my feed and I'm very glad for it. it reminds me of my very first post on here, and why I decided to put my work out into the world: because young me was a writer, and current me is a writer, and future me will be too - all for the joy of creating.
hi kristina! i'm so glad you made your way here! that's so cool! i'm excited to check out your post, thank you for sharing it with me. wishing you the very best! <3
Love how you've captured this. I'm finding Substack feels like this circle of thought- loving writing, feeling brave enough to share what you've written, then feeling like you've not done enough to share it and then realising it's okay if only a few people read it because the act of writing it was worth it. This is a gorgeous line: 'To take the thing that once made you feel most like yourself and hand it over to fear, one thought at a time.' thanks for sharing!
thank you, Kim <3 that's such a beautiful way to put it, thank you for saying this here! agreed, we are so lucky to have a space for it here. i'm so glad you are a part of it!
it really does... and it's so easy to get caught up in it. you're not alone in feeling the pressure; we're in this together. <3 thank you so much for being here, lovely! 💌
Beautifully said! I only just started with Substack, but I can already see how easy it would be to let creativity lead to performance. I‘m trying to stay conscious of it and hold on to the love of writing instead, because life must come first. I‘ll be okay if I just get to keep writing.
hi, Naina! ahh welcome! i'm so happy you've found your way here, happy to subscribe to you and follow along on your journey!
i love how you put that: "because life must come first." that the essence of why i write here, to remind myself of that, and hopefully other people too. thank so very much you for being here. 💌
I changed the way I presented myself and my work as well as what I created when I was hyper aware that people were going to see/hear it. It took a lot for me to return to what was in my heart to share instead of what I thought people wanted. There's only one me and there's only one of everyone. Everyone is unique and special and has something different to share; why should I try to blend in when I'm supposed to be standing out in my uniqueness. Thank you for those reminders in this post. I am a creative, not because I share, but because that's what I do.
this gave me all the chills!!! thank you, nadine. i resonate so deeply with everything you shared. “everyone is unique and special and has something different to share; why should i try to blend in when i’m supposed to be standing out in my uniqueness” — that is going to stay with me.
i’m so grateful you’re here and adding your voice to this conversation. keep showing up as the brilliantly unique person you are. <3
i'm glad the words reached you in that way, Katerina! i definitely understand what you mean. it's important to remind ourselves why we started and to return to fun. <3 rooting for you!
I really needed this today. After a few posts doing well, I started to feel immense pressure and started to base success over those likes/comments. thank you for reminding me who I started doing this for <3
aah it means the world to me that i could give you that reminder. it’s so easy to start thinking that way, especially when the numbers start rising. that’s why we’re here to remind one another. you’re doing so great on here 🤍 that’s exactly it—the person we show up for, that’s why we do this 💌
I recognized the trap you're describing from the inside.
I'm 70. I've been building something online for nearly two years now — writing daily, making videos, showing up consistently. And I still catch myself checking numbers before I've had my coffee. Still feel the pull of external validation as proof that the work is real.
What you said about recognition and permission hit hard. I spent decades waiting for permission that was never going to come from outside. A committee that met to discuss how I should behave. A marriage that went quiet when I spoke too loudly. Systems that required me to shrink in order to belong.
And then one day I just started writing. Not because anyone said I could. Because something in me refused to wait any longer.
You're right that the writing existed before the fear did. The trick — and I'm still learning this at 70 — is remembering that on the days when nothing outside reflects what you hoped to see.
Those are the days the work matters most.
Keep going.
wow, monica. first of all, thank you — for sharing this, for your encouragement, for your kindness, and for the inspiration. your words are going to stay with me for a long time, so thank you for that gift.
second of all, i’m so glad you’re betting on yourself and giving your voice the space it has always deserved.
i hope you know how important your words are. thank you again. <3
I appreciate you articulating all of that. I think creatives in general, and emerging writers especially grapple with imposter syndrome daily.
The only way past it is through it.
I am a writer, World. Deal with it! 🥰
vicki, i'm so happy to see you! thank you so much for your kindness. i think you're right about that. it's important to keep reminding ourselves to challenge that inner voice.
amen! you are a writer, and your words are needed. never forget it! 🥰✮⋆˙
As you you and yours!
💌 💌
Ugh, Sofia never ever stop writing please. I deeply needed this reminder today, that just because I am slowing down for a bit, doesn't mean I am not a writer. I am a writer, even before what I learnt what it is to be one. Crazy stories that we call "dreams" always in hindsight was more vivid than my own life, and most often than not, I'd dream of being a writer. Because being a writer doesn't mean you just write stories. It means you make people feel seen, relatable, a reminder that the humanity is in humans, just like you have. Thank you for posting this 🫶🌻
my new bestie!! thank you from the bottom of my heart. <3
"I am a writer, even before what I learnt what it is to be one." that hit home. 🥹 those are the sweetest words... thank you so very much for being here. 💌
🥹🌻
💌
yes! such good reminders in this post. Substack brought it onto my feed and I'm very glad for it. it reminds me of my very first post on here, and why I decided to put my work out into the world: because young me was a writer, and current me is a writer, and future me will be too - all for the joy of creating.
(if you fancied checking out my first post from last year: https://awannabewriter.substack.com/p/now-and-then-i-want-to-be-a-writer?r=6ffd3)
hi kristina! i'm so glad you made your way here! that's so cool! i'm excited to check out your post, thank you for sharing it with me. wishing you the very best! <3
And to you !! 🌞
<3!
Love how you've captured this. I'm finding Substack feels like this circle of thought- loving writing, feeling brave enough to share what you've written, then feeling like you've not done enough to share it and then realising it's okay if only a few people read it because the act of writing it was worth it. This is a gorgeous line: 'To take the thing that once made you feel most like yourself and hand it over to fear, one thought at a time.' thanks for sharing!
wow, Rachel, that's exactly it! thank you for putting it so profoundly. i'm so glad these words reached you. thank you for being here. 🤍
Well said - we are all creative. Writing is an expression of ourselves, and how lucky we all are to be able to share it with the world.
thank you, Kim <3 that's such a beautiful way to put it, thank you for saying this here! agreed, we are so lucky to have a space for it here. i'm so glad you are a part of it!
honestly that line between writing and performing gets blurry so fast. i’ve been feeling that pressure lately and this was such a grounding read <3
it really does... and it's so easy to get caught up in it. you're not alone in feeling the pressure; we're in this together. <3 thank you so much for being here, lovely! 💌
Beautifully said! I only just started with Substack, but I can already see how easy it would be to let creativity lead to performance. I‘m trying to stay conscious of it and hold on to the love of writing instead, because life must come first. I‘ll be okay if I just get to keep writing.
hi, Naina! ahh welcome! i'm so happy you've found your way here, happy to subscribe to you and follow along on your journey!
i love how you put that: "because life must come first." that the essence of why i write here, to remind myself of that, and hopefully other people too. thank so very much you for being here. 💌
Likewise! I‘m glad I found you, and that‘s a big part of why I write, too.
thank you. i love that! rooting for you! 💌 💌
I changed the way I presented myself and my work as well as what I created when I was hyper aware that people were going to see/hear it. It took a lot for me to return to what was in my heart to share instead of what I thought people wanted. There's only one me and there's only one of everyone. Everyone is unique and special and has something different to share; why should I try to blend in when I'm supposed to be standing out in my uniqueness. Thank you for those reminders in this post. I am a creative, not because I share, but because that's what I do.
this gave me all the chills!!! thank you, nadine. i resonate so deeply with everything you shared. “everyone is unique and special and has something different to share; why should i try to blend in when i’m supposed to be standing out in my uniqueness” — that is going to stay with me.
i’m so grateful you’re here and adding your voice to this conversation. keep showing up as the brilliantly unique person you are. <3
Thank you Sofia, likewise! 💚✨
There is a constant push and pull between visibility and authenticity these days, and you articulate it well. From writer to writer, thank you.
Noelle <3<3 thank you for reading so thoughtfully and for adding this here. you are an inspiration, and don't you forget it. ✮⋆˙
<3 u sof. Ur wonderful
all my <3 for you 🥹
Performance pressure is such a real thing. Giving into it risks killing the joy writing gives— and joy is the whole damn point. 💛
this gave me chills. thank you for adding this to the conversation. 💛 joy is the whole damn point indeed!!
Just what I needed to hear during moments of feeling stuck.... Blogging if fun but there is a sense of pressure for sure....
i'm glad the words reached you in that way, Katerina! i definitely understand what you mean. it's important to remind ourselves why we started and to return to fun. <3 rooting for you!
Thank you Sofia 😊
oh i needed this!!! beautifully written <3
olivia <3 thank you so much. i'm so glad it resonated with you, it means the world to me! keep shining ✮⋆˙
❤️❤️
💌 💌 💌
As a musician, I can really relate! Thank you for writing this🫶
i’m so glad it reached you in that way! you’ve got this. 💫🤍